Robert F Kennedy cleared the first obstacle to be confirmed as an American health minister when he approved his nomination of the Senate Committee on Tuesday.
The voting was divided on the party line, 14-13, with all Republicans on the Finance Committee of Senate who voted in favor of the skeptics of the vaccine who gave his support behind Donald Trump after he ended his own presidential offer and whose health expertise was questioned.
Kennedy’s nomination will now go to the vote of the entire American Senate, which Republicans control 53-47.
The senators questioned Kennedy about his attitudes on vaccines and other health problems and tested his knowledge of US public health infrastructure.
During his hearing he insisted that he did not oppose vaccines or conspiracy theorist, but to support stricter security tests.
But the senators have entered their last comments, including a podcast appearance in which he said, “There is no vaccine that is safe and effective.”
Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent that organizes and works with Democrats, praised Kennedy’s slogan “Make America a healthy again.” But the senator then later showed pictures of children’s clothing printed with messages against the vaccine selling children’s health defense, an organization that has been nominated until recently.
Kennedy replied that he no longer had control of the group.
Although Kennedy’s testimony last week did not win any democrats on his side, he managed to get the key support of Republican Senator Louisiane Bill Cassidy.
Cassidy, a doctor, expressed his skepticism towards Trump’s candidate, but announced that he would be supported after Kennedy and the White House received “serious obligations”. It cleans the way for a whole Senate voice.
Kennedy is the son of Robert F Kennedy and the nephew of President John F Kennedy.
He gave his name as an environmental lawyer, but in recent years he has been criticized by US health care, including food safety and advocacy against vaccines.
He initially led the candidacy for president as a democrat, but then set up an independent offer before he gave up and supported Trump.
As a secretary, Kennedy would be in charge of huge agencies such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Medicines Administration (FDA), National Health Institutes (NIH) and Medicare and Medicaid Services Centers.
Kennedy suggested that he would release many people who work for these federal agencies, and Trump said he would give his candidate wide freedom to reform US food and health care systems.
During a certificate hearing, RFK JR indicated that he would not strive to ban vaccinations or unhealthy fast food, but would look at the use of food additives that he says they are much more widespread than in European countries.
